Probably no other figure in American history is as infamous as Benedict Arnold. For those most devoted to the "religion" of Americanism the name of Benedict Arnold is synonymous with traitor on an equal footing with Judas Iscariot or Brutus. He will always be remembered above all else for his defection to the Crown forces during the American Revolution and attempt to pass secret information on West Point to the British army. However, this flat image of Arnold is only one side of the story. Although he was often distrusted by the British as well (and we will see why) there are some who see no sense in portraying Arnold as a villain for betraying an army of traitors. He was a vain man, ambitious, sensitive and romantic. He was also, in any unbiased view, one of the finest commanders of the American Revolution and a soldier of exceptional bravery.
          Born in Connecticut in 1741, Benedict Arnold grew into a strong, intelligent but tempermental young man. He ran away from home to join the British army and fought in the French and Indian War but later went home after growing tired of military life. After moving to New Haven he opened his own business as a druggist and book seller. Eventually he became wealthy enough to become a successful merchant, trading in the West Indies and Canada, commanding his own ships at times and visiting Quebec which would become important to him a few years down the road. In 1767 he married Margaret Mansfield by whom he fathered three sons; Benedict, Richard and Henry. Arnold was always somewhat lost without female companionship and it was quite a blow when his wife died in the summer of 1775. During his years as a merchant he also had his run-ins with the British. He visited England and once fought a duel with a British sea captain who called him a "damn Yankee". After Arnold wounded him the captain apologized.
          In colonial America probably the best known social club was the militia and Benedict Arnold soon reached the top, becoming the commander of the Governor's Guards in New Haven. When word reached him of the first battle of the Revolutionary War at Lexington, Massachusetts he immediately led his troops to Boston to participate in the siege of the British garrison there. He realized that Fort Ticonderoga in New York would be a vital strategic point and recommended its capture to the Massachusetts Committee of Public Safety. Impressed by him, they quickly commissioned him a Colonel in the Continental Army and ordered him to raise forces for the capture of Ticonderoga. When he arrived on the scene though he found that Ethan Allan and his "Green Mountain Boys" were already preparing to attack the fort. Arnold had the command but Allan had the support of his men so the operation became a joint venture. In a surprise attack under cover of darkness Arnold and Allan captured Fort Ticonderoga without incident and the guns there were later used to help persuade the British to evacuate Boston.
          Benedict Arnold became better known after this success and with his knowledge of the area, Arnold soon proposed another plan to General George Washington to capture Quebec. Washington liked Arnold and authorized the invasion, though it was to be no easy task and a real test of Arnold's abilities. Problems mounted from the start, particularly when an officer deserted with about 200 men and most of the provisions for the army. However, Arnold pressed on through bad weather, rough terrain and hardships of every kind. He reached the famous Heights of Abraham but had to await the arrival of General Richard Montgomery before he could consider an attack on the walled city. After Montgomery arrived from taking Montreal the two launched an attack on Quebec under cover of darkness in the middle of a blizzard. The attack was repulsed by the Governor General of Canada, Sir Guy Carleton, and Arnold was wounded in the leg. However, Arnold refused to give up and kept his army there despite the intense cold and privation until the arrival of British reinforcements ended all hopes of the revolutionaries taking Canada.
          Later, showing amazing zeal and creativity Benedict Arnold builds a naval flotilla from scratch on Lake Champlain to confront General Carleton who is leading a counter-invasion south from Canada. After a hard fought action near Valcour Island Arnold's little fleet goes down with flags flying, but Arnold saved his men, took them to Ft Ticonderoga and had so delayed the British advance that Carleton had no choice but to call off the invasion and return to Canada for the winter. Arnold was then able to send reinforcements to Washington which proved invaluable in his successful attacks at Trenton and Princeton which, though rather unimportant militarily, were a propaganda coup that helped keep the revolution going. Washington was a big fan of Arnold's and even compared his crossing of the Maine wilderness in winter with few provisions and harassment by Indian attacks to Hannibal crossing the Alps.
          With the loss of his wife, Arnold was eager to get a new woman in his life, never being able to stand isolation. In 1776 he began courting the "Belle of Boston" Miss Besty Deblois, a girl from a well known and staunchly loyalist family. Perhaps because he was a revolutionary general, and perhaps not, Betsy rejected him, turning down his proposals of marriage. Given the hopeless task of defending Rhode Island, Arnold was injured again in 1777 while fighting a harassing action in Connecticut against the loyalist forces of Royal Governor Tryon. Afterwards, Arnold, a brigadier general, assumed command of the Philadelphia district. However, he was replaced by Congress with Major General Thomas Mifflin. Arnold was offended that, in the first place, a man like Mifflin who was his junior should be promoted ahead of him and that he should then be given his command when Arnold had displayed such courage and talent in the revolutionary cause. The problem was a result of the divisive politics that effected the rebel army. George Washington was far from popular with many politicians and army subordinates, especially the highly esteemed General Charles Lee. As one of Washington's favorites, Arnold attracted the criticism of those who opposed the commanding general. Washington may have been all but untouchable, but his friends were not and Arnold was often a target of this partisan back-stabbing.
          Arnold resigned over the outrage, but when the British recaptured Ft Ticonderoga Washington decided he could not spare him and urged Arnold to return to duty, which he did, serving on the northern front where Crown forces under General John Burgoyne were attacking south. After losses at Ticonderoga and Hubbardton, Benedict Arnold was instrumental in breaking the alliance between the British and many of their Indian loyalists which enabled the siege of Ft Stanwix to be lifted. Following this up, he was instrumental in launching a preemptive attack which saved the main American army at Freeman's Farm and at the battle of Bemis Heights he took the initiative, charging into battle without orders to rally the breaking rebels and inflict a defeat on the British which finally forced General Burgoyne to surrender his army at Saratoga to General Horatio Gates. In the end, Gates got the credit for the victory at Saratoga, though after the battle of Camden, South Carolina his own ineptitude and cowardice would be proven beyond all doubt. In reality though, much of the credit for the victory at Saratoga and stopping the invasion from Canada must go to Benedict Arnold.
          Gates, however, gave no credit to Arnold for saving the day and in fact even ridiculed him for disobeying orders by taking charge of the faltering troops at Bemis Heights and leading them to victory! Arnold was justly outraged at such treatment. He had acted with skill and bravery and was being ridiculed by an incompetent general who took all the credit for a victory more justly Arnold's. Arnold had been badly wounded in the leg and spent the winter recovering and in 1778, following the British evacuation, Washington put Arnold in command of Philadelphia. In the meantime, political events were unfolding in a way Arnold did not approve of. The victory at Saratoga finally convinced the French to recognize the United States and support them with money, men and a declaration of war against Great Britain. Arnold was outraged by this act which most rebels celebrated. Arnold could not imagine fighting alongside the French, the traditional age-old enemies of England, against the British Empire. It may seem odd today, but remember that at that time there was still not a real "American" identity. Colonists identified with their colony to an extent but still saw themselves for the most part as Englishmen, Irishmen or Scotsmen. The French alliance seemed to Arnold as though his fellow Americans were almost making a deal with the devil.
"The Dark Eagle"
         The most significant thing though about Arnold's time in Philadelphia was his meetin a lively, opinionated 18-year-old named Peggy Shippen. Arnold had been protecting some of the loyalists or those suspected of being loyalists from the violent, vigilante rebels in Philadelphia. Miss Shippen was the daughter of a well known loyalist family and was herself extremely devoted to King and country, holding an extremely low opinion of the revolutionaries to say the least. She was also very beautiful and it took no time at all before Arnold was totally in love with her. After only one month the couple were married on April 8, 1779. Arnold's letters to his teenage bride reveal a true romance and the two were a happy and loving couple for the rest of their lives. Happiness at home did not translate to happiness at work for the general however as he was accused by his enemies in Congress of malfeasance, for which he was finally court-martialed.
          Benedict Arnold was outraged that after such service and sacrifice on behalf of his country he was repaid with ingratitude, accusations of corruption and the elevation of lesser men above him. His young wife let her feelings be known about the Congress and the other Continental officers as well. She had long been very supportive of the British cause, was an outspoken loyalist and urged her husband to be done with all of the rebels who had mistreated him, did not appreciate his extensive service on their behalf and who had now gotten into bed with the French. She assured him that if he would return to his loyalty to the Crown he could be forgiven for his past actions and appreciated for the exceptional soldier he had proven himself to be. Arnold felt as though he were isolated. The rebel leadership and his own brother officers treated him as an enemy while it was only from his young loyalist wife that his qualities seemed to be recognized. It is also worth noting that Benedict Arnold was the only officer of his rank in the Continental Army who was not a Freemason, which certainly may have led to his being rejected by the upper echelons of the revolution where the Masons dominated both in politics and in the army.
          Finally, with the encouragement of his wife, Arnold began a correspondence with the British commander in chief in North America, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton. The Crown forces had attempted to induce other rebel leaders, such as Charles Lee, to renounce their treason and return to their former loyalty; so the situation with Arnold was not new. Clinton advised Arnold to obtain a post of some importance and promised him a handsome payment for any military information he passed on as well as the rank of brigadier general in the British army with his past actions in support of the revolution forgiven. The liason between Clinton and Benedict Arnold was Major John Andre, a flamboyant young officer who had previously courted the lovely loyalist Peggy Shippen before her marriage to Arnold. With his plan set, Arnold requested to be given command of the fort at West Point, a very strategic choke point in New York and George Washington approved.
Benedict Arnold and John Andre
         Benedict Arnold agreed to turn over West Point to the British for 20,000 pounds sterling and sent plans on the fort and his intention with Major Andre to take to Clinton. Hiding the papers in his boot, Andre dressed in civilian clothes and travelled under the name of John Anderson. However, he was stopped by highwaymen who supported the revolution and reported him to the authorities. Ultimately the incident was reported all the way to the senior commander in the region: General Benedict Arnold. Arnold was eating breakfast when the news reached him. He kissed his wife goodbye and at her urging fled to the protection of HMS Vulture and sailed for New York. Washington flew into a rage when he heard, threatening to hang Arnold. His wife Peggy, however, proved able to take care of herself. Going into hysterics she convinced the rebels that she had been totally unaware of Arnold's actions and had everyone totally convinced that she was simply a frightened young girl totally ignorant of political matters. After a trip to Philadelphia she joined her husband in New York.
          Washington reinforced West Point after this and so a British attack was out of the question and the agreement between Clinton and Arnold no longer applied. However, the Crown forces were still happy to have him. He was made a brigadier general, given 6,315 pounds with 500 pounds a year for his wife. Major John Andre, however, had to bear the anger the rebels felt toward Arnold and the young British officer was hanged as a spy, meeting his death bravely according to all observers. The British were outraged and stated that no civilized country in Europe would have hung such a man. Clinton had offered to exchange a rebel prisoner for Andre, but Washington stated he would take no one in exchange for Andre except Benedict Arnold. With his new command in the British army, Arnold hoped to raise his own legion of American loyalists. In December of 1780 he was dispatched by Clinton to Virginia with 1,600 troops to cut off the rebels in the southern colonies, raid the tobacco economy there and rally any loyalists or runaway slaves to the British cause.
          Once back in action, Arnold dominated the field. He marched his army around Virginia in what was known as the tobacco raids to destroy the rebel economy in the area, raid rebel depots and encourage loyalists in the area. Arnold was quite successful at this and was virtually unopposed. Not long after Lord Cornwallis arrived in Virginia, Clinton was ordered to a foray into Connecticut to draw off rebel forces who were moving in on Cornwallis at Yorktown. Of course, as everyone knows, Cornwallis was not saved but surrendered Yorktown in what is generally considered the end of the war. Benedict Arnold went to England and along with some others insisted that Yorktown need not be considered the disaster for Britain it was being portrayed as. He returned to North America, in fact to Canada which he had tried to conquer, and urged the fight to be continued but it was to no avail. The war was over and Benedict Arnold and his wife Peggy moved to Canada where he tried to get back into the marchant sailing business, however, his good nature was taken advantage of when the fellow loyalists he loaned money to did not pay back their debts. Once again in financial trouble, he moved his family to England and tried to get his foot in the door of the West Indies Trading business. He also implored his fellow Americans to abandon the Articles of Confederation and re-join the British Empire.
          Much has been said about Arnold being rejected and distrusted by British society, and while he was certainly not considered part of the elite class, there is little evidence that anyone held a lasting grudge against him because of his early service with the rebels. In fact, when the Napoleonic Wars broke out Benedict Arnold tried to return to the army and had the support of veteran commanders Sir Henry Clinton and Earl Cornwallis though he failed to obtain a commission. On June 14, 1801 Benedict Arnold died. Many American sources will claim that he retracted his actions on his deathbed and asked to be buried in his Continental uniform, but of course there is no evidence of this at all. His love for his very loyalist wife certainly never diminished over time and even after the war he continued to support the cause of the British Empire which he had sacrificed so much to serve. Today there are several monuments to Benedict Arnold in the United States in recognition of his crucial actions at Saratoga and West Point, however, his name appears on none of them. In all the years since there has certainly been no forgiveness for Arnold, nor even any attempt to understand him. He remains largely forgotten in Britain where the loss of the American colonies is not much dwelt on and in America he remains just as reviled as he ever was, the only American whose name has become synonymous with "traitor".